Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits Camp Lemonnier

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to sailors from the Coastal Riverine Squadron 10 during his visit as part of the 2015 USO entertainment troupe tour at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 6, 2015. The Riverines’ primary mission is to conduct maritime security operations across all phases of military operations by defending high value assets, critical maritime infrastructure, ports and harbors - both inland and on coastal waterways. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment (Seminole Battalion) during his visit to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 6, 2015. The Chairman took time to thank the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines for their contributions to enabling East African partners to fight violent extremist organizations in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares a meal with service members at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 6, 2015. The chairman took time, while touring as senior leader for the 2015 USO entertainment troupe tour, to thank service members for their dedication and sacrifice during the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, introduces the hosts of the 2015 USO Entertainment Troupe during their visit to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 6, 2015. Dunford joined the tour as the senior leader on its multi-day, three-continent trip to show service members their appreciation during the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed)

Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to troops while on the second stop of his multi-day, three-continent trip with the 2015 USO Entertainment Troupe.

Making his first trip to Africa after becoming chairman two months ago, Dunford expressed his three primary goals in his new position: restoring joint readiness, improving joint warfighting, and developing leaders of tomorrow.

“We must ensure that our forces have the training, equipment and leadership they need to be ready at all times,” said Dunford. “We must have the adaptation and innovation necessary to fight wars in the future as well as the ones we are currently involved with, and to make sure [leaders] are ready for challenges that are far more complex than ones I confronted as a young Marine.”

Dunford also spoke about the importance of forward presence by deployed service members, stating the objective is to keep sufficient pressure on the enemy and disrupt their capabilities.

“The Islamic State has grown since 2014,” said Dunford. “We are making sure we have the right capabilities and capacities inside the joint force to keep pressure on them to make sure we’re playing an away game and not a home game.”

While addressing the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines assigned to Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier, Dunford lauded them for efforts in increasing African partnership and their capabilities.

“One thing we work on is building partner capacity so they can deal with a threat within their own borders,” said Dunford. “With a small number of Americans, we can enable a large number of indigenous forces to take the fight to the enemy.”

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